19. The Life of Our Lord

Father! Creator! Lord Most Hi^h!
Sweet Jesus! Fount of Clemency I
Blest Spirit! who dost sanctify!
God ruling over all!
The Dolors Christ did once endure,
Oh grant that I, with spirit pure,
Devoutly may recall.

Jesus! Thou didst a Mother choose,
Whose Seed the serpent's head should bruise,
Seed of a Virgin Womb;
Oh bruise that serpent now in me,
Bruise him, good Lord! that I may be
Thine at the Day of Doom.

Jesus! the saints in spirit soar,
Where angels hymn for evermore
The Judge who shall appear;
Receive a suppliant that would raise
His voice unto that choir of praise,
But is half mute through fear.

Jesiis! who from Thy throne didst come,
And man\s most vile estate assume,
Our lallen race to lift,
Oh o;rant that such transcend i no; love
To me through thine own grace may prove
No ineffectual gift.

Jesus! whom Mary once conceived
Through grace, her backward fears relieved
By angeFs salutation.
May I, within a chastened heart,
Conceive Thee, Living Word, who art
My God and my Salvation.

Jesus! whom Thy sweet Mother bore
To Saint Elizabeth of yore,
On Jewry's mountain lee;
Oh mayst Thou oft, in ways concealed,
To heart but not to eye revealed,
Vouchsafe to visit me.

Jesus! kind visitant of earth.
Of sinless and of painless birth,
Thy Mother's only-born,
May love with undiverted flame
Ascend, and for Thy glorious Name
All other nuptials scorn.

Jesus! the spacious world was Thine,
Yet, when Thou wouldst Thy Head rech'ne,
It scarce found room for Thee;
And Oh! shall sinful man be bent
On self-sought greatness, not content
With Christ-like poverty.

Jesus! for whom the Shepherds sought
As Infant, by the angels taught
From out the midnight sky.
Oh may I love Thy praise on earth,
That I may one day share the mirth
Of angel hosts on high.

Jesus! my God and Saviour, Thou,
Sinless, didst as a sinner bow
To ordinance divine;
Oh curb my loose and wandering eyes,
Prune my self-will, and circumcise
This carnal heart of mine.

Jesus! before Thy manger, kings
Lay prostrate with their oiferings,
A most unworldly throne;
Thou to my cradle camest, Lord,
With gifts invisibly outpoured
From waters of Thine own.

Jesus! whom Thy meek ^fother vowed
To God, whose law would have allowed
Her first-born to go free,
Oh give me such an humble mind,
That in obedience I may find
The choicest liberty.

Jesus! sweet fugitive, who fled
From Herod's bloody net outspread
For Thy dear Infancy,
Give me, O Lord! like modest care
To fly the world when it speaks fair.
To steal Thy grace away.

Jesus! whom Thy sad IMother sought,
And in the temple found, who taught
The aged in Thy youth:
How blest are they who keep aright,
Or find, when lost, the living light
Of Thine eternal truth!
O Creator! hear Thy creatures,
Saviour! hear us when we pray;
Thou who dost renew our natures.
Good Spirit! give us hearts to say,
Deus meus et omnia!
Jesus! the Father's words approve
His Son in Jordan, while the Dove,
Bright Witness, hovers down;
So wash me, Lord, that I may be,
At the great day approved of Thee,
Before Thy Father's throne.

Jesus! who in the strength of fast.
Through Adam's three temptations passed,
On Adam's trial ground,
In me let hallowed abstinence
The issues seal of carnal sense.
And Satan's wiles confound.

Jesus! Thou didst the fishers call,
Who straightway at Thy voice left all,
To teach the world of Thee;
May I with ready will obey
Thine inward call, and keep the way
Of Thy simplicity.

Jesus! who deigndst to be a guest.
Where Mary's gently-urged behest
With Thy kind power made free,
May I mine earthly kinsfolk love.
In such pure ways, that I may prove
My greater love for Thee.

Jesus! how toiled Thv blessed Feet
O'er hill and dale and stony street,
Through weary want and pain!
Oh may I rather for Thy sake
The hardships Thou has hallowed take
Than joys Thou didst disdain.

Jesus! in all the zeal of love
How amiably didst Thou reprove
Poor wretches lost in sin!
Ah! may I first in penance live,
Rebuking self, then humbly strive
My brother's soul to win.

Jesus! who didst the multitude
Twice nourish with miraculous food
Of soul and body both,
Give me my daily bread, O Lord,
Thy Flesh, Thyself, Incarnate Word!
Which feeds our heavenly growth.

Jesus! Thy gracious truth revealing.
All sorrow soothing, sickness healing.
And so requiting hate.
Oh grant that I may ever be
Like-minded, blessed Lord! with Thee,
And envy no man's state.

Jesus! transfigured on the height
Of Tabor in mysterious light
From heaven^s eternal fountain,
If such the earthly type, oh lead,
Lead me where Thou Thy flock dost feed
Upon the holy mountain.

Jesus! who wept o'er Salem's towers,
Wept for her long and baleful hours
Of misery and sin!
O Love Divine, could I but borrow
From Thy sweet strength such strength of sorrow
As might her pardon win!

Jesus! and do I now behold
My God, my Saviour, bought and sold,
A traitor's merchandise?
O grant that I may never be
A Judas, dearest Lord, to Thee,
For all that earth can prize.
O Creator! hear Thy creatures,
Saviour! hear us when we pray;
Thou who dost renew our natures.
Good Spirit! give us hearts to say,
Deus meus et omnia!
Jesus! who deemdst it not unmeet
To wash Thine own disciples' feet,
Though Thou wert Lord of all;
Teach me thereby this wisdom meek,
That they who self-abasement seek
Alone shall fear no fall.

Jesus! who Thy true Flesh didst take
Upon the Paschal night, and break
For our most precious Food,
O Living Bread, be Thou my strength
Through which the world and flesh, at length,
In me may be subdued,

Jesus! who in the garden felt
The bloody sweat, yet patient knelt
To do Thy Father's will,
To me give such a zealous mind
To suffer, such a heart resigned
Thy statutes to fulfil.

Jesus! Thy friends are fain to sleep,
While to the unresisting Sheep
The cruel wolves repair;
May I be found as meek and still
By those who wish or work me ill,
And, like my Lord, at prayer.

Jesus! who sawst on that sad night
Thine own, Thy chosen, take to flight,
And leave their Lord by stealth;
Oh may we learn in grief and care
Those harder trials still to bear,
Prosperity and wealth.

Jesus! who meekly silent stood
Before the accusing multitude,
Do Thou my tongue control,
Set on my busy lips Thy seal;
Ascetic silence oft can heal
The sickness of the soul.

Jesus! whom Peter then denied.
Thou with one gentle look didst chide
The weak disciple's fears;
If ever I deny Thy Name,
Thy Cross, oh send me speedy shame,
Oh give me Peter's tears.

Jesus! the Judge of quick and dead.
Thyself, when falsely judged, wert led
In mock regalia clad;
May I my solemn office fill.
Judge of myself, and think no ill,
Not even of the bad.

Jesus! when scourged and bnflPetcd
And spit upon, Thy sacred Head
Was bow'd to earth for me;
Oh may I pardon find, and bliss,
And expiating love in this
My Lord's indignity.

Jesus! with crown of ruddy thorn
The Jews Thy tortured brow adorn,
And, jeering, hail Thee king;
May I, O Lord, with heart sincere
My humble zeal, my love and fear,
And real homage brinor.

Jesus! for whom the wicked Jews
A vile and blood-stained robber choose,
Have mercy, Lord, on me,
And keep me from a choice so base
As taking wealth, or ease or place,
Barabbas, Lord! for Thee.
O Creator! hear Thy cTcatures,
Saviour! hear us when we pray,
Thou who dost renew our natures,
Good Spirit! give us hearts to say,
Deus meus et 0I[NIA \
Jesus! along Thy proper road
Of sorrows, with Thy weary Load
How didst Thou toil and strain!
Oh may I bear the Cross like Thee.
Or rather, Lord, do Thou in me
The blessed weight sustain.

Jesus! on that most doleful day
How were Thy garments stripped away,
Thy holy Limbs laid bare!
Oh may no works or ways unclean
Des|)oil me of that modest mien
Thy servants, Lord, should wear.

Jesus! what direst agony
Was Thine, upon the bitter tree,
With healing virtues rife!
Oh may I count all things but loss,
All for the glory of the Cross,
The sinner's Tree of Life.

Jesus! around Thy sacred Head
There is an ominous silence shed.
The Name which Pilate wrote;
Save us. Thou royal Nazarene!
For in that Threefold Name are seen
The gifts Thy Passion brought.

Jesus! who to the Father prayed
For those who all Thy love repaid
With this dread cup of woes,
Teach me to conquer, Lord, like Thee,
By patience and benignity,
The thwarting of my foes.

Jesus! who, come to seek and save,
Absolved the thief, and promise gave
Of peace among the blest.
Ah! do Thou give me penitence
Like this, that I, when summoned hence,
In paradise may rest.

Jesus! who bade the virgin John
Thy mother take, when Thou wert gone.
And in Thy stead to be.
Oh when I yield my parting breath,
Be Thou beside me, and in death,
Good Lord, remember me.

Jesus! true Man, who cried aloud,
Toward the ninth hour. My God, my God,
O why am I forsaken?
Lord! may I never fall from Thee,
Nor e'en in life's extremity
My humble trust be shaken.

Jesus! athirst, the soldiers think
To mock Thee, giving Thee to drink
What might inflame Thy pain;
Ah I mindful of the loathsome draught
Which for my sins my Saviour quaffed,
May I my flesh restrain.

Jesus! Redeemer, all the price
Of Adam's sin Thy sacrifice
Did more than fully pay;
May I my stewardship fulfil
With equal strictness, and Thy will
With scrupulous love obey.

Jesus! Thy Passion at an end,
Thou didst Thy blameless Soul commend
Unto the Father's care -,
When my last hour is come, may I
Hasten with meek alacrity
To do Thy will elsewhere.
O Creator! hear Thy creatures,
Saviour! hear us when we pray;
Thou who dost renew our natures.
Good Spirit! give us hearts to say,
Deus meus et omnia!
EESUJIRECTION, ASCENSION, SESSION, AND SECOND
Jesus! all hail, who for my sin
Didst die, and by that death didst win
Eternal life for me;
Send me Thy grace, good Lord, that I
Unto the world and flesh may die.
And hide my life with Thee.

Jesus! from out Thine open Side
Thou hast the thirsty world supplied
With endless streams of love;
Come ye who would your sickness quell,
Draw freely from that sacred well,
Its heavenly virtues prove.

Jesus! Thy Passion's bitter smart
Pierced like a sword Thy Mother's heart,
As Simeon prophesied;
So fix my heart unto Thy Cross,
That I may count all gain but los3
For Jesus Crucified!

Jesus! in spices wrapped and laid
Within the garden's rocky shade,
By jealous seals made sure,
Embalm me with Thy grace, and hide
Thy servant in Thy wounded Side,
A heavenly sepulture!

Jesus! who to the spirits went,
And preached the new enfranchisement
Thy recent death had won,
Absolve me, Lord! and set me free
From self and sin, that I may be
Bondsman to Thee alone.

Jesus! who from the dead arose,
And straightway sought to comfurt those
Whose w^eak faith mourned for Thee,
Oh may I rise from sin and earth,
And so make good that second birth
Which Thou hast wrought in me.

Jesus! who wert at Emmaus known
In breaking bread, and thus art shoivn
Unto Thy people now.
Oh may my heart within me burn,
When at the Altar I discern
Thy Body, Lord! and bow.

Jesus! amid yon olives hoar.
Thy forty days of sojourn o'er,
Thou didst ascend on high;
Oh thither may my heart and mind
Ascend, their home and harbor find
With Jesus in the sky.

Josiis! ten silent days expired,
the Eternal Spirit came, and fired
With His celestial heat
Thine infant Church; Oh may that light
VYithin one pasture now unite
Men's widely wandering feet.

Jesus! who at this very hour
At God's Right Hand in pomp and power
Our nature still dost wear,
Oh let Thy Wounds still intercede,
And by their simple silence plead
Thy countless merits there.

Jesus! who shalt in glory come
With angels to the final doom,
Men's works and wills to weigh,
Since from that pomp I cannot flee,
Be pitiful, great Lord! to me
In that tremendous day.
O Creator! hear Thy creatures,
Saviour! hear us when we pray;
Thou who dost renew our natures.
Good Spirit! give us hearts to say,
Deus meus et omnia!